New forgery-proof birth certificates coming

Dominica is addressing new measures to combat crimes associated with birth certificates.

Two public officers have been charged for forgery of birth certificates and other documents which has been linked to a passport scam on the island.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said government has been working with the Organization of the American States on the introduction of safer birth certificates with increased security features.

“The one that we have now is very basic and exposed. That is why you have had people who have used birth certificates as part of a criminal enterprise,” he said.

Prime Minister Skerrit said the new initiative will cost the government a significant sum.

“We have just contracted the services of Canadian Bank Note to print these certificates for us and it will come with specific security features similar to what is found on the passports, so it will be difficult to manipulate,” he said.

The prime minister said this is being done all in an effort to protect the state and its citizens.

He said it is also geared at fighting international criminal activities where the use of fraudulent documents are concerned.

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16 Comments

  1. *Jay*
    November 10, 2011

    ITS ABOUT TIME. THE BIRTH CERTIFICATED HERE ARE REALLY CRAPPY, NO SEAL NOTHING STRUPES

  2. Jalousie
    June 8, 2011

    Dominicans to investigate.
    Seems like it’s getting worse by the day in our beloved country.Very surprsed at the P.M’s comment.satan cannot correct sin.Where is the money coming from to do those new birth certificates.
    Seem like is his buddies involved.
    Passports cannot walk out of the office. What he needs to do is to get a good team-non

  3. yaw
    June 8, 2011

    happy birthday pm skerritt

  4. To stop what?
    June 8, 2011

    Is Skerritt serious? Does Skerritt think before he speaks?

    Only crimes associated with birth certificates that Dominica Govt.is addressing new measures to combat? So Funny?

    Why has Roosevelt Skerrit and his Government not find it fit or worthwhile to work with the Organization of the American States re. Electoral Reform, to assist in the provision of VOTER ID CARDS? Didn’t the OAS advise Govt., after 2009 elections, that VOTER ID CARDS should be provided and the Electoral List cleaned up to ensure FREE and FAIR elections in Dominica? Didn’t the Electoral commission recommend the same Electoral reform? Money is the problem or No political Will to reform our electoral process? That is a serious irresponsible act against the State and its citizens who have been pleading for such reforms for about 7 years now. Added to that malaise is the illegitimacy of Skerritt himself as the leader of the country. Doesn’t he wish to protect the State and its citizens against such abuses of Power and disregard for the constitution and Laws of the land?

    Skeritt says people who have used birth certificates as part of a criminal enterprise. CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE? Dominicans have lost count of the numerous criminal activities going on? Should I mention all of them on DNO? Many Dominicans know about those criminal acts done by those in ‘HIGH PLACES, those with Power in Power. Absolutely Nothing as far as justice is concerned is happening. Those cases and culprits go Scott Free. If the case happen to reach court, it is dragged on and on and on. Justice delayed is justice denied. The Big Wigs are protected. They know how to protect themselves after committing those criminal acts.

    Skerritt said said new measures are being done all in an effort to protect the state and its citizens. REALLY? What measures are being taken to have the 42 charges read to the Lawyer without delay. Aren’t those charges filed against that Lawyer allegedly have to do with FRAUD and other illegal criminal acts? Are actions taken so far, regarding that famous case, aimed to protect the State and its citizens? Does Skerritt ever listen to what he spews? What actions have been taken to investigate the illegal Rubbish Bin and Fertilizer Bobols? What about the quick enrichment through dubious means by some in Public office? What has been done? Facts, Evidence available. No investigation. What about the FIRE BOMBING of a senior citizens home? A heinous criminal act? Since December 2010 that dreadful criminal act took place.

    Who cares? certainly not those ‘High Repute’ people who benefit from those criminal acts. Big Boys, Agents et al are making plenty $$$$$$ from the sale of passports. Big Wigs in HIGH PLACES have never been brought to Justice. Passport SCAM after SCAM after SCAM. Dominica’s name has been in Bad books internationally for years, decades, as regards passports sale in the name of a nonsensical Economic Citizenship programme.

    Who is responsible for keeping, protecting Dominica’s passports before any is issued? The horses have been allowed to bolt out of the stable. The doors of the stable are made wide open. Those announcements now by Skerritt is simply meant to pacify the public.

  5. Anonymous
    June 8, 2011

    So what makes them forgery proof, is the workers inside there that forging them wi!

  6. Anonymous
    June 8, 2011

    :-x

  7. .......
    June 8, 2011

    ha ha very funny…. “significant sum” “more security features” stupzzz give me a break… go and create jobs with that money and develop the country so people won’t have to think twice of committing these type of crimes.. the people learn from their leader.. show the example mr PM and lead this country forward and your people will humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways and we will be a better nation for all…. increase features and you not cleaning up the mess…. getting all them big boys that involve and bring them to the front… Lord help us!

  8. me
    June 8, 2011

    Those next level criminals will still find a way.

  9. Oh Please
    June 8, 2011

    Oh give me a break.This is just dry air, how u going to fight this when its the people that were responsible for issuing the legal ones that was committing the crime in the first place. the certificate is not the problem the people issuing it is. If you are serious about solving this issue be real and nip it in the butt. put a system in place that creates a record of every individual that access any information regarding birth certificates. companies do if at back and telecommunication companies. I just installed the same thing for the cell company in Tortola. Every one is given a username and password and whenever your have anything to do u have to log in. this creates a report of every single thing u do which can then be reviewed. you responsible for the safety of your information so don’t say some one use your password.

    Its time we stop blowing hot ear. if this country truly want to deal with this issue don’t say u going to change the birth certificates though i applaud the idea cause we do need a change on that but we also need to the conditions as well. Certificate don’t forge themselves. people do so nip it in the butt.

  10. Piper
    June 8, 2011

    OK,so you tighten up on the birth certificate, but you selling passports to all and sundry? What a way to protect the state and its citizens?

  11. Gwen kubawi
    June 8, 2011

    DNO while we dealing with passports –I wonder what is taking the judge so long to make a decision on skerrit and st Jean’s passport. Any word DNO on the Decision – Do we need Larry King on that one.

  12. Doh Do That
    June 8, 2011

    It is rather interesting how things are done in a politically corrupt Dominica. The PM is quick to spend money on an issue that can be simply resolved by implementing a strict system of checks and balances among the various government offices issuing passports and or birth certificates. The fact that the PM is highlighting the fact that the security enhancement in our birth certificates is an expensive venture hints that (1) the country does not have the money for this luxury yet we are making a bitter sacrifice to introduce. (2) The PM is also wants to create the semblance of reactivity on the part of the administration
    One question comes to mind- Why now? Approximately 18 months ago the government was notified of serious problems with our passports and the government’s response was to tell Dominicans don’t over stay their visit to the UK. What a bag of BS.

    Now here it is the government or should I say the two attorney generals Tony and Alick refused to implement a voter ID system even after legislation was passed more than 5 years ago, both sides of government recognized the importance of implementing a voter ID system. We were told that the voter ID system was way to expensive.

    I am already convinced that credibility is not a forte of the PM and his advisers however I will ask the following. How do we intend to restore the validity of every birth certificate if the security system has been completely compromised. The sad truth is the validity of every born Dominican is now up in the air. It means therefore that there could be a massive surge in birth certificate request from Dominicans at home and abroad. Are we prepared to handle the surge and will we be asked to foot the bill. I’d like to suggest that we let the chambers of those crooked lawyers pick up the tab for obvious reasons.

  13. vip
    June 8, 2011

    The pot telling the bom its bottom black.The new measures to combat crime should read will include crime associated with birth certificates money laundering,bribes and under the table deals for issuing contracts,money and assets that cannot be accounted for, large sums of money that is not passing through the banking system,drug money financing campaigns and so on.By finding loopholes in the law,everyone is trying to beat the legal system and they are doing it .AND THEREFORE YOU ARE NOT A THIEF ONCE MAN’S COURT HAS SET YOU FREE BUT YOUR SINS SHALL FIND YOU OUT.

  14. smile
    June 8, 2011

    What difference does it make. They had americans here showing them about the new passports and see what is happening now with total strangers having dominican passports. Makes no sense.

    • boom
      June 8, 2011

      why does this comment have a shade of pin?! lol :-?

  15. Anonymous
    June 8, 2011

    This should have been done years ago but better late then never

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